The latest rumors to come out of the World Superbike paddock is that to fight the continuing economic crisis, reduce costs and get more bikes on the grid, WSBK organizer Infront Motor Sports after meetings in Misano and Brno are now considering a major change in the 2012 rules and switch to only one bike per rider.
The one bike rule would naturally mean an all around cut in expenses for teams who are constantly trying make their racing budgets meet, and the teams seem to be pushing towards this type of solution, however any type of crash (Ruben Xaus is now officially warned) could greatly penalize a rider’s partecipation if his mechanics are unable to rebuild his bike in time for any of the sessions or the races.
Other rumors that have been bandied around are engine restrictions or adopting Superstock rules or British Superbike’s Evo class rules (series-specified control ECU) are still being considered as an alternative cost cutting measure, which would make Alstare Suzuki’s Francesco Batta very happy, as he’s been demanding a rule change and getting the championship back towards more production based bikes.